Page 26 - TOEFL Preparation Series _ Listening Comprehension

SkillS: LISTEN FOR DOUBLE NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS

It is possible for two negative ideas to appear in one sentence, and the result can be quite
confusing.

Example
On the recording, you hear:
(man) I can't believe the news that I heard about the concert.
(woman) Well, it isn't impossible for the concert to take place.
(narrator) What does the woman say about the concert?

In your test book, you read:
(A) There's no possibility that the concert will take place.
(B) The concert will definitely not take place.
(C) The concert might take place.
(D) The concert can't take place.

The correct answer to this question is answer (C). If it isn't impossible for the concert to
take place, then it is possible, and the modal might indicates possibility.
The following chart outlines the situations where double negatives can occur:

DOUBLE NEGATIVES
Situation Example Meaning
Negative word (e.g. not, no, none) and He didn't like the unclean office. Did not like unclean office
a negative prefix (e.g. in-, un-, dis-). = liked clean office.
two negative verb. It isn't snowing, so they aren't Implies that they would go
going to the mountain. if it were snowing.
Neither or not... either. Sue didn't like the movie, and Both did not like the movie.
neither did Mark.

EXERCISE 8: In this exercise, underline the two negatives in the second line of each short
conversation. Then, read the question and choose the best answer to that question.
Remember that two negatives make the sentence positive.

1. (man) Paula, you worked so hard setting up the (A) She hopes everyone will be pleased.
field trip. (B) She knows no one is happy with
(woman) I hope no one's unhappy with the what she has done.
arrangements. (C) She's arranged to take a trip
(narrator) WHAT DOES PAULA MEAN? because she's unhappy.
(D) Everyone's happy with the condition
of the field.

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